President Biden announced the details of his spending plan last week and revealed that the largest allocation of funds will go towards fighting climate change. There are steps that can be taken at both the national and institutional level to help create a more sustainable environment at St. Lawrence University.
“The problem is huge, which means we can’t be thinking the solution could just be reducing emissions. We have to go outside that, really come up with a technology that can overcome those little marginal things,” said Professor Alice Tarun. “I don’t think it’s enough, but if we don’t invest it’s going to get worse.”
There is a limit to what existing technology can accomplish in combating climate change. “Maybe it requires really actively harvesting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” Tarun said. “So, instead of focusing on little things, invest the money in new technology that can overcome those limitations.”
St. Lawrence students expressed that the culture at the university has made them aware of the issues surrounding climate change. “I feel like I’ve learned more about climate change and sustainability not necessarily from my biology classes, but from just being on campus and being around other students who are very passionate about this issue,” said Biology-Anthropology major Kinsley Holl’ 24.
As an institution for higher education, the St. Lawrence community has a role to play in taking climate action. “If the nation is pledging to decrease emissions by a certain percent, I think that a university could be a model of what could be done at a broader level and at a broader scale,” said Professor Aaron Iverson. “I know there’s been some efforts, and there is a Climate Action Plan, so I think that really means a lot if SLU could fulfill that and pursue that as a priority.”
It is in the St. Lawrence administration’s best interest to make choices that strive for sustainability. “It boils down to economics too,” Iverson said. “Think about all the energy that’s wasted and it’s going to keep costing more and more so it makes sense long term for the university, but also just to be leaders and to train minds for how we can live sustainably.”